Championship round-up: Cooke’s men must heed harsh lessons

DONCASTER prepare to host Featherstone Rovers tomorrow with player-coach Paul Cooke insisting his team have learned some harsh lessons following last week’s Championship opening loss to relegated London Broncos.

“Such is in the quality of the division this year that you can’t give teams the start like we did,” he said.

“When you find yourself 26 points down after 45 minutes it’s certainly a mountain to climb.

“We can take a bit of confidence from the way we finished the game but we got nothing out of it and learned some really harsh lessons.”

Cooke has no injury concerns but will check on the fitness of Kyle Kesik, who missed last week’s game.

Featherstone coach Andy Hay saw his side win against Hunslet Hawks on Monday night but added. “We’re a new team with eight or nine players making their debuts against Hunslet. We’ve got to gel pretty quickly. Doncaster are a good side.”

Hay’s only injury concern is full-back Ian Hardman.

Bradford Bulls coach James Lowes is expecting an instant response when the fallen Super League club host Whitehaven tomorrow.

They threw away a 20-6 interval lead at champions Leigh on Sunday and he said: “It is my job to ensure that it does not happen again.

“After half-time, I felt we went away from our game plan and that was the most disappointing aspect of the game.

“Had we stuck to it, then we would have probably come away with the two points.

“We need to respond in a positive manner.”

Halifax coach Richard Marshall takes charge at The Shay for the first time with champions Leigh Centurions visiting tomorrow.